Construction is among the most dangerous industries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that 21.1% of private sector worker fatalities in 2016 occurred in construction.
If you or your loved one has been hurt in a construction accident, contact Faulkner Law Offices as soon as possible. Our Bakersfield injury attorneys are tough advocates for construction accident victims.
We are not intimidated by large companies and will take our cases to trial if necessary to gain maximum compensation. Our courtroom success rate is more than 90%. Our attorneys have been representing injured people and their families since 1974 with an exclusive focus on injury law. We believe this gives us the specialized knowledge needed to better pursue compensation for our clients.
OSHA states that, excluding highway collisions, the leading causes of worker deaths in the construction industry in 2016 were the “Fatal Four”:
Many construction accidents occur because of the failure of employers to adhere to industry safety guidelines or OSHA and Cal-OSHA standards. Some construction accidents are caused by third-party negligence or defective products.
Workers’ compensation is designed to provide workers with an efficient way to obtain compensation for their injuries and to protect employers from employee lawsuits for work-related injuries and illnesses. However, workers’ comp benefits are not usually adequate to compensate workers injured in serious construction accidents for their damages.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding a construction accident, the injured worker may have a third-party liability claim. This is a claim for damages brought in civil court against a third party (other than the injured worker’s employer or co-worker) whose negligence contributed to the construction accident and injuries. Examples of potentially liable third parties may include:
If you have been injured in a construction accident caused by the negligence of a third party, you may be able to claim damages including:
Third-party claims can result in significantly greater compensation than workers’ compensation benefits provide.
Construction projects typically involve property owners, architects, engineers, multiple contractors, and subcontractors, all of whom bear some responsibility for providing a safe construction site work environment. Determining liability in a third-party construction accident claim can be a complicated process. A thorough investigation must be conducted as soon as possible. It may be necessary to obtain court orders to quarantine the site to preserve evidence.
Our experienced injury attorneys at Faulkner Law Offices in Bakersfield can investigate your accident, obtain witness statements, identify potentially liable parties, and contact OSHA and local authorities. We can negotiate skillfully with insurance companies on your behalf and fight for your rights in court if necessary. Contact us today to discuss your options after a serious construction accident.